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A Palestinian woman sitting next to her sick daughter at the al-Nasser hospital for children in Gaza, on January 21. (Reuters)
Last update - 00:00 01/04/2008
WHO: Israel turning away sick Gazans, who die in 'avoidable tragedies'
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel 

Israel has turned away more sick Palestinians from Gaza seeking treatment since Hamas seized control of the coastal strip and several have died each month unnecessarily, a United Nations agency said on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Israel denied entry permits to 18.5 percent of patients seeking to leave the Gaza Strip in 2007 versus 10 percent in 2006.

In absolute terms, however, the number of patients from Gaza who were treated in Israel substantially increased, rising from nearly 5,000 in 2006 to 7,000 in 2007.
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1,627 Gazan patients saw their requests denied in 2007, as opposed to the aproximate 470 who were denied treatment in 2006, according to WHO figures.

The WHO said the number of applicants and the percentage of those turned away surged after Hamas Islamists seized control of Gaza in June, the crossing to Egypt was closed and Israel tightened restrictions on the territory.

Israel could not provide figures for how many sick Gazans were granted travel permits last year. A senior defence official denied the system caused unnecessary death, but said Israel was wary of would-be suicide bombers using illness as a cover.

Israel last year imposed a blockade on Gaza in response to cross-border rocket fire by militants. International organizations have condemned the measure as collective punishment.

"Even under fire and under threat we still coordinate the health needs of Gaza's population," said Colonel Nir Press, head of Israel's Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza.

Shortages of medicine, equipment and trained medics, which local officials blame on Israeli restrictions, mean advanced health care is virtually non-existent in the Gaza Strip.

Thousands of Gazans have been treated over the years in Israel.

The WHO said 32 Gazans died between October 1 and March 2 while waiting for travel permits.

It could not provide comparative figures and said it was hard to measure whether faster treatment would have saved them, characterizing many of the deaths as unnecessary.

"All these tragedies could have been easily avoided," WHO's head of office for the West Bank and Gaza, Ambrogio Manenti, told a news conference. Palestinian medical officials in Gaza say more than 100 Gaza patients have died since June after being denied permits.

Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip in 2005 but effectively still controls its borders, in cooperation with Egypt, which administers the Sinai-Gaza border.

Egypt has allowed some Gazans in for treatment, but has agreed with Israel to keep its border largely closed.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson's Office released a statement detailing the humanitarian aid and supplies transferred to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Approximately 138 trucks brought foodstuffs such as meat, wheat and sugar, as well as cleaning products and school books to the coastal strip.



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      1.   ha 18:13  |  Esteban 01/04/08
      2.   The Obvious 18:32  |  Ron 01/04/08
      3.   So do Israelis on this side of the Gaza border. Stop the rockets 18:32  |  Man deVoshkes 01/04/08
      4.   Why rely on Israel? 19:00  |  ecr 01/04/08
      5.   Israel is not required to treat ANY Gazans 19:03  |  Gee 01/04/08
      6.   so what? 19:04  |  Marcelo 01/04/08
      7.   Collective Punishment 19:08  |  Avrum 01/04/08
      8.   UN agency ignorse healthy Israelis die in `avoidable tragedies` 19:12  |  Joe Sittizen 01/04/08
      9.   All you need to know about Israel 19:18  |  Joe 01/04/08
      10.   Pottery Barn rules-whether you like it or not 19:23  |  Aphemia 01/04/08
      11.   Passover coming 19:38  |  Edifice 01/04/08
      12.   Joe and Aphemia 19:39  |  Alain 01/04/08
      13.   WHO = UN = FRAUD 19:48  |  Shloimele 01/04/08
      14.   Tough luck, build your own hospitals. Your big boys now. 19:55  |  Jew 01/04/08
      15.   If true that is indeed disappointing, BUT...... 20:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/04/08
      16.   "Israel could not provide figures..."?? 20:07  |  ZADOK 01/04/08
      17.   Racist Society 20:08  |  Mani Seo 01/04/08
      18.   #9 Joe 20:08  |  Chris 01/04/08
      19.   IDF Rejjects UN Report 20:09  |  Harvey 01/04/08
      20.   excact numbers 20:14  |  dawn 01/04/08
      21.   Aphemia #10 You`re wrong 20:23  |  Gee 01/04/08
      22.   #9 Joe 20:25  |  Enlightened Zionist 01/04/08
      23.   #9 Joe 20:25  |  Enlightened Zionist 01/04/08
      24.   Aphemia, one does not behave like an elephant in a pottery barn, 20:28  |  Enlightened Zionist 01/04/08
      25.   Aphemia, one does not behave like an elephant in a pottery barn, 20:28  |  Enlightened Zionist 01/04/08
      26.   Other countries wouldn`t let a single person in 20:29  |  Gili 01/04/08
      27.   israel don`t own the gazens a damn thing,if the gazens are so 20:31  |  terrornator 01/04/08
      28.   #9 Joe, do you ever ask yourself.... 20:40  |  DR 01/04/08
      29.   joe #9 one more thing we know,99% of pal attacks against jews are 20:40  |  terrornator 01/04/08
      30.   Gazan fire on Israel so why help them 20:41  |  Farancawy 01/04/08
      31.   #17 20:43  |  kokingaye 01/04/08
      32.   WHO and Sick Gazans 20:43  |  Gabriel 01/04/08
      33.   GOOD IS IRRAELI JEWS 20:46  |  CHOSEN WORLD 01/04/08
      34.   ## Haaretz lies ## Here are the figures 20:52  |  Moises 01/04/08
      35.   The hate 20:52  |  Sam 01/04/08
      36.   Joe #9 -Stop and think 20:53  |  Elihu 01/04/08
      37.   #9 20:54  |  kokingaye 01/04/08
      38.   Gazans the WHO refers to were treated in Israel or grated permits 20:57  |  JP 01/04/08
      39.   Blame Hamas and not Israel 20:59  |  The Equalizer 01/04/08
      40.   Israel did receive 82.5% of patients! 21:21  |  Don 01/04/08
      41.   WHY ARE THEY CRYING NOW 21:36  |  TOBIA 01/04/08
      42.   There are more stones walking than laying around in Israel 21:40  |  Kris Lazar 01/04/08
      43.   #22#30 and the rest of the enlightened zionists 21:43  |  Joe 01/04/08
      44.   We don`t owe the Gazans a damned thing 21:50  |  Yonatan 01/04/08
      45.   WHO contradicts itself 21:53  |  Lynn 01/04/08
      46.   #22#30 and the rest of the enlightened zionists 22:03  |  Joe 01/04/08
      47.   So predictable 22:22  |  Natallie Durson 01/04/08
      48.   FIND OUT WHY...End Freedom of Speech at the UN 22:23  |  David 01/04/08
      49.   Millions spent on arms could be used for hospitals and staff 22:26  |  Aaron 01/04/08
      50.   Super yawn ! why must we care for people devoted to kill us ????? 22:26  |  trumpeldor 01/04/08
      51.   #36 Elihu 22:34  |  Joe 01/04/08
      52.   Why don`t 22 HUGE Arab countries with ENORMOUS OIL WEALTH help? 22:47  |  Linda Rivera 01/04/08
      53.   #44 Lynn - "WHO doesn`t seem to know." 22:47  |  JP 01/04/08
      54.   ELECTED HAMAS MUST ANSWER FOR THIS 23:01  |  David P 01/04/08
      55.   Who Speaks From Both Sides Of Their Mouths 23:03  |  Eli 01/04/08
      56.   To Alain and EZ 23:04  |  Aphemia 01/04/08
      57.   From one Joe to the other Joe 23:08  |  Joe Sittizen 01/04/08
      58.   Joe the ignorant. 23:09  |  Leo 01/04/08
      59.   june 23, 2005 23:11  |  jehiel chaleff 01/04/08
      60.   If they can kill 23:12  |  Rav Harley 01/04/08
      61.   #46 Joe 23:14  |  Chris 01/04/08
      62.   Smuggle Medicines... not weapons 23:16  |  indrajaya 01/04/08
      63.   Haaretz _ Your Headline Would Have Read Better If You 23:16  |  Eli 01/04/08
      64.   #9 Joe Taqiyya! You Lie and DECEIVE 23:18  |  Linda Rivera 01/04/08
      65.   The WHO report is wrong 23:19  |  Softwalker 01/04/08
      66.   Reminds me of the Jewish Ghettos of Europe 23:19  |  European 01/04/08
      67.   # 48 JP ....Who? 23:20  |  Lynn 01/04/08
      68.   david P. it is, if it still occupies it 23:22  |  MAN 01/04/08
      69.   Gazan`sSick of War 23:27  |  Zev 01/04/08
      70.   #36 Elihu 23:29  |  Joe 01/04/08
      71.   Undying HATE: Thousands of PA Muslims CELEBRATE Jerusalem MURDERS 23:29  |  Linda Rivera 01/04/08
      72.   We will rebuild the kindergarten of Jabalya 23:35  |  Ralph is back 01/04/08
      73.   Arabs in ISRAELI Hospital REJOICE Jews are MURDERED 23:36  |  Linda Rivera 01/04/08
      74.   "number of patients from Gaza substantially increased" 23:36  |  PETER SM 01/04/08
      75.   European 23:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/04/08
      76.   53 Leo 23:42  |  Jose Marcio 01/04/08
      77.   SO WHAT and WHO CARES 23:45  |  GABE1 01/04/08
      78.   " 5,000 in 2006 to 7,000 in 2007."A 40% INCREASE in Gazans treate 00:00  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      79.   40% INCREASE IN GAZANS TREATED IN ISRAEL 00:01  |  MR 02/04/08
      80.   The German news agency DPA covers the same story 00:08  |  Joseph . E 02/04/08
      81.   They reached the conclusion before they looked at the figures 00:08  |  Sarita 02/04/08
      82.   What were the32 diagnoses? 00:20  |  17 02/04/08
      83.   How about Egypt? 00:21  |  Yossi 02/04/08
      84.   MAN #68 you might want to look up the term 00:31  |  Gee 02/04/08
      85.   Odd view of their "rights" developed 00:42  |  Scharker Yid 02/04/08
      86.   SUGAR? Imbecile Barak still waving through trucks of Kassam fuel! 00:45  |  Dr. L. Brnd 02/04/08
      87.   EUROPEAN how many qassems & suicide bombers did the Jews send? 00:50  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      88.   Linda Rivera are you really that obtuse? 01:00  |  American 02/04/08
      89.   MAN - if Gaza like Warsaw as you claim, why won`t the Arabs Help? 01:01  |  David P. 02/04/08
      90.   Hamas should stop spending money on rockets & arms 01:04  |  * BEN JABO 02/04/08
      91.   9-----All you need to know about Palestine 01:10  |  Just the facts 02/04/08
      92.   #14 Jew. Open your eyes! 01:15  |  Maureen Ann 02/04/08
      93.   Eli the hawk from US 01:26  |  Truth 02/04/08
      94.   Joseph E. do you still have the url to the Ma`an story 01:42  |  MaryRose 02/04/08
      95.   humanitarian aid 01:46  |  mordechai 02/04/08
      96.   # 72 17 ...one had a brain tumor, cancerous 01:48  |  Lynn 02/04/08
      97.   WHO 01:51  |  Charles 02/04/08
      98.   is this Israel problem or is it the palestinians? 01:55  |  what??? 02/04/08
      99.   Every Govt looks after its own first 01:57  |  marilyn 02/04/08
      100.   Read between the lines , planty of silver linings 02:00  |  TOMY 02/04/08
      101.   9 Joe,zionism is racism! 02:05  |  lakshmi 02/04/08
      102.   Everything UN is against Israel 02:05  |  Steve 02/04/08
      103.   #92 Maureen Ann 02:16  |  * BEN JABO 02/04/08
      104.   wrong headline. correct one. who lied, distorted truth, 02:25  |  ralph 02/04/08
      105.   with the money received, build hospitals not bombs, mortars, and 02:26  |  jj 02/04/08
      106.   hamas chose rockets over meds and hospitals their free choice 02:26  |  ralph 02/04/08
      107.   check the facts who lied distorted news bought by arabs, 02:27  |  ralph 02/04/08
      108.   even if you leave common humanity aside, this is bad PR 02:28  |  newageblues 02/04/08
      109.   GAZANS 02:36  |  Ted Zork 02/04/08
      110.   #93 Truth - Try telling it for a change of pace 02:37  |  * BEN JABO 02/04/08
      111.   Truth # 93 _ What Part Of My Post Did You Find Hawkish? 02:50  |  Eli 02/04/08
      112.   Crimes are committed in ou rname. Time to act 02:51  |  Occupation Mag. 02/04/08
      113.   I See The Ugly Racist Lakshmi Is Back _ How Is The 02:53  |  Eli 02/04/08
      114.   HAMAS SHOULD HAVE BUILT HOSPITALS 02:54  |  Nechama 02/04/08
      115.   saving a life is saving an entire world 02:55  |  newageblues 02/04/08
      116.   G-d helps those that help themselves 03:02  |  Connie 02/04/08
      117.   I guess the avoidable tragedies were a result 03:08  |  natan 02/04/08
      118.   re 62 This has got to be a fake indy. 03:11  |  Alan the real one 02/04/08
      119.   Who: Israel turning away sick Gazans 03:11  |  Gaye 02/04/08
      120.   Syrian and Iranian Medical help 03:17  |  Alan the real one 02/04/08
      121.   lakshmi and genocide lessons 03:18  |  natan 02/04/08
      122.   MAUREEN Open your eyes.How many ambulances have carried weapons? 03:33  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      123.   #92 Maureen Ann 03:37  |  Charles 02/04/08
      124.   LAKSHMI Islam is racism,just look at the regular Islamist hate 03:40  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      125.   Keep these future killers healthy? 03:47  |  GPS 02/04/08
      126.   LAKSHMI."Slow genocide"?With an ever increasing population? 03:49  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      127.   #101 Lakshmi 04:02  |  Moshe 02/04/08
      128.   Firing rockets & expecting free medical care 04:03  |  Free Gilad Shalit 02/04/08
      129.   MAUREEN Open your eyes 2.If Hamas can bring in missiles to Gaza - 04:12  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      130.   ONLYa Moslem top heavy UN could claim a 40% INCREASE in 1 yr 04:20  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      131.   Why Gazans are forced to use Israeli Hospitals 04:25  |  Mohammed Choudhury 02/04/08
      132.   #101 Lakshmi 04:26  |  Moshe 02/04/08
      133.   107 natan,there are more things than are dreamed of in your 04:28  |  lakshmi 02/04/08
      134.   Joe#9 - the Rafah barrier came down - how many sick left? 04:28  |  William 02/04/08
      135.   #9 - Joe - explain that to the Gazan children with heart defects 04:31  |  William 02/04/08
      136.   Natan#113 - response to Lakshmi 04:34  |  William 02/04/08
      137.   92 Maureen Ann,it`s to make the Palestinians disappear! 04:34  |  lakshmi 02/04/08
      138.   Arab Girl show gratitude for Israeli Medical Treatment 04:43  |  * BEN JABO 02/04/08
      139.   # 94 MaryRose @ Los Angeles -California 04:50  |  Joseph . E 02/04/08
      140.   LET THEM EAT KASSAMS 04:51  |  Avi Klein 02/04/08
      141.   #10 Aphemia, Israel didn`t break it 04:52  |  MaryRose 02/04/08
      142.   Typical of bleeding heart liberals 04:52  |  Mark Lincoln 02/04/08
      143.   Mohammed Choudhury 131 04:54  |  Free Gilad Shalit 02/04/08
      144.   Aabs kill Israelis 04:54  |  Mark Lincoln 02/04/08
      145.   #PeterSM, Charles and Ben Jabo. Three blind men! 05:01  |  Maureen Ann 02/04/08
      146.   HOW MANY ISRAELIS HAVE BEEN TREATED AT PALESTINIAN HOSPITALS? 05:05  |  Murray of Montreal 02/04/08
      147.   #137 Lakshmi. It`s called slow genocide! 05:06  |  Maureen Ann 02/04/08
      148.   According to Haaretz the Pal population growth 05:20  |  MaryRose 02/04/08
      149.   pal population growth = viagra 05:21  |  MaryRose 02/04/08
      150.   137 Pal patients have carried bombs to kill Israeli Doctors 05:26  |  Rob 02/04/08
      151.   #131 Mohommed.Lay down arms first 05:26  |  Aga 02/04/08
      152.   haaretz. you got it wrong you pass on lies like WHO does 05:32  |  ralph 02/04/08
      153.   check the facts who lied, haaretz who loves this stuff printed li 05:32  |  ralph 02/04/08
      154.   #101 "...the subsequent 60 year long slow genocide." 05:51  |  MaryRose 02/04/08
      155.   Murray of Montreal 05:57  |  Mark Lincoln 02/04/08
      156.   M.CHOUDRY.Who controlls the Rafah border? How do Grads get in? 06:28  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      157.   #92, Maureen Ann.. 06:30  |  Silvienne 02/04/08
      158.   #113, Eli, How is Lakshmi an "ugly racist?" 06:33  |  Silvienne 02/04/08
      159.   MAUREEN You can`t abuse trust and demand business as usual 06:46  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      160.   Israel limits access to medical care. 06:59  |  jack 02/04/08
      161.   LINCOLN "Aabs kill Israelis"(sic.Yet Israelis treated 7000 Gazans 07:09  |  PETER SM 02/04/08
      162.   #80 - Thank you Joseph for bringing FACTS to Talkback 07:18  |  William 02/04/08
      163.   #149, not to be snotty but... 07:43  |  Denise 02/04/08
      164.   #12 Weapontry? 07:47  |  Denise 02/04/08
      165.   I`M HAPPY AND NOT HAPPY 07:47  |  indrajaya 02/04/08
      166.   C`Mon Mark Lincoln_ Did You Actually Fall For This Big Lie 08:11  |  Eli 02/04/08
      167.   #145 Moron Ann,a deaf,dumb and blind person 08:43  |  Hastaroth 02/04/08
      168.   Reasoning, LAKSHMI style 08:56  |  Gideon 02/04/08
      169.   This is down right criminal... 09:04  |  Dutch 02/04/08
      170.   Israel has become a merciless entity 09:14  |  Dutch 02/04/08
      171.   It`s sinful to deny the sick & dying treatment & medicine 10:08  |  Dutch 02/04/08
      172.   demographics of death 12:55  |  jack 02/04/08
      173.   #145 Maureen Ann 13:34  |  * BEN JABO 02/04/08
      174.   #131 "then these areas would be able to flourish" 13:50  |  CM 02/04/08
      175.   Dutch & Silvienne,greetings! Maan News reports 2 items today:one 13:52  |  lakshmi 02/04/08
      176.   hospital ships 13:54  |  wondering 02/04/08
      177.   #158 Well said Silvienne. 15:05  |  Deborah 02/04/08
      178.   OR Israel treatment of Pals waa up by 40% from 5000 to 7000 15:09  |  Doc Holliday 02/04/08
      179.   Silvienne # 158_You Obviously Missed Many Of Her Ugly 16:50  |  Eli 02/04/08
      180.   Dutch - You`re right, Your posts are boringly criminal 17:54  |  * BEN JABO 02/04/08
      181.   why rely on israel, b/c israel is an occupying power 20:46  |  youssuf 02/04/08
      182.   Gazan fire on Israel so why help them 23:36  |  Meg MacLeod 02/04/08
      183.   Silvienne - try coming up with something original of your own 00:19  |  * BEN JABO 03/04/08
      184.   Why Gazans are forced to use Israeli Hospitals 00:28  |  Meg MacLeod 03/04/08
      185.   #171: Dutch, isinful to blow int`l money on rockets not medicne 04:28  |  Doc Holliday 03/04/08
      186.   #177, Deborah... 23:41  |  Silvienne 03/04/08
      187.   #175, lakshmi... 23:44  |  Silvienne 03/04/08
      188.   #183, Ben Jabo... 23:47  |  Silvienne 03/04/08
      189.   If you lay down with dogs.... 00:19  |  leo 04/04/08
      190.   #188 Silvienne 03:13  |  * BEN JABO 04/04/08
      191.   Israel turning away sick Gazans, but treating animals 17:49  |  Get Real 07/08/08
      192.   To all those who blame Hamas for this... 14:03  |  Alex 18/05/09
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